If you’ve ever dealt with a line of trucks waiting to be weighed before leaving your business, you may have wondered: Can you weigh something in motion? The answer is yes. Weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems are a cost-effective, efficient way to collect data and capture the weight of incoming and outgoing trucks without the stop-and-go of traditional stationary scales.

Whether you’re curious about renting truck scales for the first time or simply want to improve the efficiency of your current system, here’s everything you need to know about weigh-in-motion scales and how they can help your business.

What Is a WIM System?

Weighing your trucks is crucial to ensuring regulatory compliance, maximizing the safety of your drivers, and efficiently monitoring your inventory. If you manage a larger fleet of trucks, the weighing process can be a big time commitment with a stationary scale, which requires the truck to be at a complete stop to capture the weight.

On the other hand, weigh-in-motion scales are weighing systems designed to measure the weight of moving objects like trucks. These innovative scales only require the truck to slow down to a certain speed to capture an accurate weight. This technology helps streamline the weighing process to reduce congestion and backups.

Types of WIM Scales/Systems & How They Work

Weigh-in-motion scales operate using sensors or load cells that convert the dynamic pressure of a vehicle driving over them into an electrical signal, which is then converted to readable data. This means that the weight of the vehicle can be captured without it having to come to a complete stop. In commercial settings, vehicles only need to slow down, usually under 10 miles per hour, for the system to capture their weight. In DOT or enforcement environments, weight can be captured at fast highway speeds.

Intercomp and Mettler Toledo are two well-known industrial scale brands that manufacture WIM systems. Below are a few of the different types of WIM systems they offer.

Intercomp Portable Low-Speed Weigh-In-Motion Truck Scales

Intercomp’s LS630-WIM™ is a portable scale ideal for more remote locations. This scale offers an effective way to track vehicle axle weights in all kinds of conditions. It can dynamically collect axle and gross weight and features portable roll-up ramps to help keep axles on a level plane. You can deploy the scale quickly for fast and efficient transfers or mobile job sites.

Intercomp In-Ground Low-Speed Weigh-In-Motion Truck Scales

Intercomp also has the LS-WIM® In-Ground Axle Scale. This scale system offers tons of flexibility in how you weigh your trucks and other vehicles. It can be either manned or unattended, and you can weigh vehicles statically or dynamically. It has a quick install time (a matter of days), and the small footprint with a 13′ width accommodates large, oversized equipment.

Intercomp Dynamic Weighbridges/Weigh-In-Motion Strip Sensors

In addition to the portable and in-ground WIM systems, Intercomp has strip sensors for weighbridges. These systems use WIM strain gauge strip sensors to replace traditional large, in-ground static weighbridge scales. The sensors integrate weight information into existing vehicle transactions to help increase traffic flow. They are quick to install and can weigh vehicles at both high and low speeds.

Mettler Toledo WIM for DOT or Enforcement

Mettler Toledo offers WIM technology tailored to different operational needs, starting with DOT and enforcement environments. DOT or enforcement WIM systems can effectively weigh trucks at high speeds to check for legal tolerance. You may see these scales on the side of the highway.

Mettler Toledo WIM Scales for Checkweighing

For distribution centers, ports, and other operations that need highly accurate weighing data to confirm legal weights and load planning, Mettler Toledo offers WIM checkweighing systems. These scales require lower speeds for capturing weight, but the advantage is the higher accuracy.

Mettler Toledo WIM Systems for Trade

In select countries, Mettler Toledo has WIM systems that reach legal-for-trade levels of accuracy. Goods can be bought and sold over the scale — all without stopping. These systems are ideal for operations that face regular traffic delays due to static scales.

How Are Weigh-In-Motion Scales Used?

You may be familiar with weigh-in-motion scales in the context of DOT services collecting truck weights on highways for regulatory compliance. However, this technology has many other practical uses for businesses, including:

  • Inbound/outbound vehicle weights: A distribution center or warehouse may implement a weigh-in-motion system at the entry and exit points of the business to verify truck weights, ensuring they don’t exceed legal limits.
  • Stock accuracy: Weighing trucks as they exit a warehouse provides precise data on the quantity of goods both received and shipped. This data can be integrated into an inventory management system for tracking stock levels.
  • Loss/theft prevention: By capturing and comparing the weight of outbound trucks with shipping documents, discrepancies can be identified quickly, helping to prevent theft or loading errors.
  • Billing accuracy: For businesses that charge based on weight (such as bulk products like material sales, waste management, grain, etc), accurate weight tracking can ensure fair customer billing.

Benefits of a WIM

Weigh-in-motion can help improve efficiency for your business in many different ways, such as:

1. Reduce wait times.

Weighing trucks entering or exiting your facility can be time-consuming, especially with a static scale. Weigh-in-motion scales can process vehicles faster, significantly reducing wait times and enhancing operational efficiency, particularly during peak seasons.

2. Maximize load capacity.

WIM can help ensure your trucks are loaded to optimal capacity without exceeding legal limits. By doing this, you can reduce the number of trips each truck must make.

3. Ensure legal compliance.

Accurate weight systems ensure your trucks comply with local and federal weight regulations. You can save your business time and money spent dealing with fees and legal issues.

4. Improve the end customer experience.

By streamlining the weighing process, you can reduce the time between shipment and delivery, enhancing the overall customer experience and demonstrating your commitment to efficient service delivery.

5. Reduce emissions.

Idling vehicles, especially trucks, create large amounts of emissions. Since in-motion weighing allows trucks to slow down but keep moving, time spent idling is reduced or eliminated, helping contribute towards your company’s sustainability goals.

6. Limited interruption to current processes.

Installing a weigh-in-motion system, especially if you don’t have a truck scale currently, means that your drivers will experience very little change to their process. At the same time, your operation can collect data and reap the benefits of weighing vehicles.

7. Increased Safety

Drivers stay in their trucks with a WIM system. They don’t have to get out and walk to the scale house, which makes the weighing process much safer.

8. Reduced Vehicle Wear

With static scales, drivers have to come to a complete stop for weighing. This harsh braking can easily take a toll on the vehicle. A WIM removes the need to fully brake, which can help extend the life of your fleet.

9. Reduced Traffic and Logistic Issues

With static scales, long lines can easily form. Depending on the location of your truck scale, these lines can block other traffic. WIM scales prevent lines, helping avoid traffic jams and increasing efficiency.

UniFide CST Has Your WIM Scale Solutions

Ready to increase efficiency with a weigh-in-motion system? UniFide CST is here to help. Our selection of high-quality, durable industrial scales includes in-motion checkweighers from the brands you trust, such as Intercomp and Mettler Toledo. Contact us today for more information or to request a quote.